Barista by day, personal trainer by night

ByBradley Massman Assistant News Editor

Updated
3:03 pm EDT, Sunday, September 2, 2018

Emma's barista Casey Ney pours a fresh, hot cup of coffee during an early shift one morning. The 28-year-old is an expert at making the 20-plus unique drinks that the coffee house offers. (Bradley Massman/Huron Daily Tribune) less

Emma's barista Casey Ney pours a fresh, hot cup of coffee during an early shift one morning. The 28-year-old is an expert at making the 20-plus unique drinks that the coffee house offers. (Bradley Massman/Huron ... more

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Emma's barista Casey Ney pours a fresh, hot cup of coffee during an early shift one morning. The 28-year-old is an expert at making the 20-plus unique drinks that the coffee house offers. (Bradley Massman/Huron Daily Tribune) less

Emma's barista Casey Ney pours a fresh, hot cup of coffee during an early shift one morning. The 28-year-old is an expert at making the 20-plus unique drinks that the coffee house offers. (Bradley Massman/Huron ... more

On any typical morning, she finds herself saying those two sentences several times. And always with a cheerful smile.

"We have our regulars," she said. "I love knowing what they want. You start learning their names and what they like."

Ney, 28, is a coffee artisan — more commonly known as a barista — at Emma's Coffee House. While the 2008 Bad Axe graduate isn't considered a manager, she carries many responsibilities on her shoulders.

“I'm more of a leader and making sure everyone is working and doing their jobs,” she said.

Brad and Jessi Severance, owners of Emma’s, and Ney have a four-year working relationship that evolved into a friendship.

“He (Brad) always knew he wanted me to work for him there,” she said. “Before we opened up, I was practicing a lot. I would make 10 honey bears a day.”

A honey bear is a drink served at the coffee house consisting of honey, butter pecan and French vanilla flavors accompanied by two shots of espresso and steamed milk on top. Emma’s features more than 20 different, and unique, drinks. And, Ney knows how to make every single one.

Her favorite drink to make: A cinnamon roll latte.

“I love the smell of it,” she said with a laugh.

Ney has created a dew drinks herself — including the strawberry cheesecake frappe.

“It’s not on the menu, but people can order it,” Ney said. “We have a lot of flavors and you get really creative. It’s a lot of fun.”

“I made a frosted gingerbread latte before,” she added.

Being a barista isn’t as easy as it looks. There is a science behind Ney’s work.

“You’re practicing when to come up and start foaming so you don’t over foam, or don’t foam enough,” she explained, adding she’s received training from the Severances. “You have to get it (specific drinks) to a certain temperature.”

One of her biggest enjoyments of the job is the customers.

“We have our regulars,” she said. “I love knowing what they want. You start learning their names and what they like.”

“I love the people I work with. We have a great group here,” she said of her nine coworkers.

Once a shift concludes at Emma’s, you can typically find Ney next door at Bad Axe Club Fitness, where she is the assistant manager and a certified personal trainer.

“I love it,” Ney said. “I’m about to add my fifth client, which is crazy. I want like eight or nine at a time.”

“It’s challenging,” she added. “Every single client you have has a different body and a different want.”

Prior to figuring out the right workout plan, Ney evaluates her clients based on their needs and wants, strengths, weaknesses and body type.

“There's always something different to do,” she said. “You have to sit down with them, talk to them and know what they want. Then you base what they want and base the program around them.”

Throughout most of her life, Ney said she’s always taken an interest in working out, but she really got into it more after the birth of her son, Caleb.

“I would just do stuff at home like Insanity or P90X,” she explained. “Once I was doing that and I found out (Bad Axe Club Fitness) was hiring, I got the job and started getting into lifting. I love it. I’m obsessed.”

She’s also in the process of earning her bachelor’s degree in nutrition science.

Much like her job at Emma’s, Ney finds enjoyment out of the locals who stop in the gym every day.

“Now that I’m helping people succeed and watching my clients change … it’s a great feeling,” she added. “You’re helping them succeed and live a healthier lifestyle.”

Ney is currently working on hitting triple digits on the bench press and encourages those who are interested in getting into shape to not be afraid.

“It takes time. Rome wasn’t built in a day,” she said. “I would encourage them to start off doing a little bit at a time. … Most of the time people fall in love with it, but it takes time.”

When she’s not working on a tasty, creative new beverage at Emma’s, or getting toned at the gym, Ney said she enjoys hanging out at home with her boyfriend, Ryan Stevens, and her now 6-year-old son, Caleb.